Automatic reel



Aug. 8, 1944.

R. A. MORAVEK AUTOMATIC REEL ll Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 13, 1941 AQQm wm mw QM M0 V -H m W mm ATTORNEYS.

R. A. MORAVEK AUTOMATIC REEL Aug. 8, 1944.

Filed Sept. 13, 1941 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Aug. 8, 1944.

R. A. MORAVEK AUTOMATIC REEL Filed Sept. 15, 1941 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 QQN3 ms\ Q INVENTOR. BY M11 )9. Mor'cwa 6 W ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 8, 1944. R. A. MORAVEK AUTOMATIC REEL Filed Sept. 15. 1941 llSheets-Sheet 4 WWW miPII mm Q INVENTOR.

, WW6. Mauve/ 8% fi WQA ATTORNEYS.

R. A. MORAVEK AUTOM REEL Aug wk Q Q ll Sheets- 5 l 4 m r, m w s Em w m Rw mm km mm Q Y ATT Filed Sept. 13, 1941 ll Sheets-Sheet 6IIIIIIIII/IIII/ ATTORNEYfi.

R. A. MORAVEK AUTOMATIC REEL Aug. 8, 1944.

Filed Sept. 13, 1941' ll Sheets-Sheet '7 I-NVEYIOR. JFadaZ/fi. Mcr'auak%d v ATTORNEYS f QQ QQ m Q mg a @Q in QQ 1 F mu 1 g 1 .WM LL. 6% by J g1 NQ L 1 1 QQN 1944" R. A. MORAVEK 2,355,318

AUTOMATIC REEL Filed Sept. 13, 1941 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 8, 1944. R. A. MORAVEK AUTOMAT I G REEL ll Sheets-Sheet 9 FiledSept. 13, 1941 INVENTOR. flwio ffl.Mo/ aue/c BY W 22%, ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 8, 1944. R. A. MORAVEK 2,355,318

AUTOMATIC REEL Filed Sept. 13. 1941 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 I INYENTOK MAW?Morgue/c Nsw 53 QEEQEQ MQN NQN MQW I Q (N llllll 11 Sheets-Sheet ll Aug.8, 1944. R. A. MORAVEK AUTOMATIC REEL Filed Sept. 15, 1941 NNM N latented Aug. 8, 1944 AUTOMATIC REEL Rudolf A. Moravek, Neenah, Wis.,asslgnor to Paper Patents Company, a corporation of cousin Wis-Application September 13, 1941, Serial No. 410,665

15 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved arrangement for reeling or windingpaper or other webs but more particularly paper webs as .they aredelivered from the drying apparatus comprising part of a paper mill. 7

The main objects of the invention are to provide apparatus which willeffectively reel paper into rolls of uniform tautness regardless of thesize of the rolls; to provide apparatus wherein the tautness of the windis uniform from beginning to end of each roll; to provide apparatus. ofthe character indicated in which the roll cores and the rolls areautomatically handled and handled in such a manner that therewill belittle or no waste of paper incident to the starting of successive newrolls; to provide apparatus of the character indicated" which isselectively operable to reel paper or other webs into single or doubleply rolls; and in general it is the object of the present invention toprovide an improved reeling apparatus of the character mentioned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood byreference to the following specification and accompanying drawings (10sheets) wherein there is disclosed automatic reeling mechanism embodyinga selected form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation on the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1 but showingcertain parts in a changed position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation corresponding to a portion ofFig. 1 but on an enlarged scale and showing certain parts in a changedposition. i

Figs. i and 5 are detailed illustrations of certain cam arrangements,one of which also is shown in Fig. 3. I

Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sections on the lines 6, 6 and l, 1 respectivelyon Fig. 3. i

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation of part of the mechanism shownalso in Fig.3 but on an enlarged scale with certain parts broken awayand shown in section to more clearly illustrate certain details.

Fig. 9 is a plan of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 8.

Fig; 10 is a section on the line l0, l0 of Figure 8.

Fig. 11 is a cross-section of a bearing structure employed in connectionwith each core shaft.

Figs. 12 and 13 are fragmentary side elevations wherein certain partsare broken away and shown in sections to reveal various details ofconstruction and respectively showing changed positions of themechanism.

Fig. 14 is an end elevation of part of the mechanism' shown also inFigs. 1 and 2 but on an enlarged scale and in a changed position.

Fig. 15 is a section on the line l5, l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a section corresponding to Fig. 15 but showing a changedposition of th parts.

Figs. 1'7, 18, 19 and 20 are diagrammatic illustrations of the methodofoperation of the improved apparatus for reeling a two-ply roll.

Fig. 21 is a diagram of the control circuits.

Fig. 22 is a wiring diagram; and Fig. 23 is a schematic illustration ofa type of regulator mechanism forming a part of the automatic reelherein described.

The apparatus herein disclosed comprises a .pair of drums 25 and 26respectively, suitably joumaled in bearings 21 and 28 carried byupstanding frame sides such as indicated at 29. The frame sides 29 maybe mounted on a. bed plate such as indicated at 30 or otherwise suitablysupported.

The rolls or drums 25 and 26 are independently driven, preferably bymeans of variable direct current electric motorsll and 32 respectively,which may receive their power from a common source.

For controlling the motors 3| and 32, there is preferably employed somesuitable arrangement whereby the motors, and thedrums 25 and 26, will bedriven at a predetermined speed relation to the speed of the dryingcylinder, or like delivery end of a paper machine or the like. Oneexample of controlling means is shown in the diagrammatic illustration,Fig. 21, wherein the drying cylinder of a paper machine is representedat 200. One element of a Harland regulator 20!, a commercially availabledevice, is driven by the receiver 202 of a pair of so-called synchrolockmotors, the other unit 203 thereof being connected to the dryingcylinder drive motor.

The unit 203 is a generator, the output of which is determined by. therotation imparted to its armature by the drying cylinder drive motor200, and the unit202 is a motor'which is driven in exact or otherpredetermined relation to the drive of the drying cylinder motor 200 andunit 203.

The regulator unit 20| has another element driven by a suitableconnection 204 to an adjustable speed changing or varying device 205which is in turn ,driven by a suitable connection 206 to the drivingmotor 3| for the upper drum 25. The regulator 20l controls theelectrical voltage delivered from the power line 201 to the drum motors3| and 32 so as to cause the same to operate at a predetermined constantspeed relationship to the drying cylinder speed. For practical purposes,the speed of rotation of the drums 26 and 26 and the drying cylindershould be substantially equalized. Independent variation of the drive ofthe drums 26 and 26 may be provided by including manually adjustablerheostats 208 and 200 in the circuits to the motors 3| and 32.

The regulator may embody various types of mechanism, one form of whichis typified by the structure represented in Fig. 23. Two shafts, 3 0 and3| l, are inter-connected by a differential gear mechanism indicated inits entirety at M2. The shaft 3|0 may represent the shaft driven by thebelt 204 (Fig. 21) and the shaft 3 may represent the shaft driven by thereceiver or motor 202. The planetary. gears 3|3 of the differentialmechanism are carried by a suitable spider 3|4 which is "rotatable onthe shaft 3| l, and said spider 3 has secured to it a sprocket 3l5.

The sprocket 3|5, through the agency of a chain M6, is adapted to drivea sprocket 3H, rotatably supported on a short shaft 3|! carried by astationary resistance, or rheostatelement 322,

which is suitably mounted in the regulator casing, one end of saidresistance element being suitably electrically connected to therheostats 208 and 209 (Fig. 21).

Under normal operating conditions, that is, when the shafts M0 and 3 aredriven at the same speed, the planetary gear supporting spider 3|4 andsprocket 3| 5 will remain stationary and electrical power willaccordingly flow at a set rate through the regulator rheostat 322.However, in the event that either of the shafts 3 0 or 3H rotatesrelative to the other, there will be a corresponding rotary movement ofthe spider 3|4 and sprocket 3|5 which will be transmitted to therheostat arm 32|, which will accordingly move along the resistanceelement 322 to adjust the electrical power supply to the motors 3| and32.

Empty core shafts are supported on a pair of downwardly inclined tracks36 and 36 (see Figs. 1 and 6), the latter being of upwardly facingchannel shape and suitably supported by posts, brackets or likeconnections to the bed plate or other parts of the apparatus. The-coreshafts each comprise the core body proper indicated at 38, endwiseextending shafts 30 and suitable antifriction bearings 40 carried bytheend of each shaft 30. As best shown in Fig. '11, each bearing 40comprises a two-part housing which supports the outer member or ballrace 4| of an antifrictionhearing. The inner part of the bearing 40fitsfreely around the adjacent end portion of the shaft 39-so as to permitfree turning of the shaft within'the bearing housing. The shaft 30 has areduced end extension" on which is seated the inner ball race 43 of theanti-friction bearing, and a nut 44 threaded onthe free end of thereduced extension 42 serves to" lock said inner ball race in place onsaid shaft extension 43.-

Ball bearings indicated at 45 interposed between the inner and outerraces of the bearing member serve to rotatably support th shaft 30 inthe bearing house 40.

The core shafts equipped with bearings as above described roll bygravity toward the lower or delivery end of the tracks and 36 where theyare stopped by means of a latch arrangement best shown in Figs. 3, 6 and12.

The said latch arrangement comprises an arm 46, one in association witheach track 35 and 36, pivoted to therespective tracks and provided atone end with a hook formation indicated at 41 and at its other end witha counterweight 48..

The counterweight 48 serves to normally rock the arm 46 so as to causeits hook 41 to engage the adjacent shaft portion 39 of the core shaft 33to thereby hold it on the tracks. The arms 46 are each extended at theirrespective hooks 41 and support transversely outwardly extending pins 49which serve a purpose presently to be explained.

For paper-winding purposes, a core shaft 38 is automatically carriedupwardly from the delivery end of the tracks 35 and 36 into the nip orbight of the pair of drums 25 and 26, substantially as shown in Fig. 3.

The mechanism for automatically carrying an empty core shaft from thetracks 35 and 36 to the web-reeling position shown in Fig. 3 comprises apair of arms or posts 50 which have their outer or free ends providedwith a recessed seat indicated at 5| for receiving a portion of theshaft 39. Said posts or arms 50 (see also Fig. 2) are each slidablymounted in a' sleevelike member 52 which is carried by the adjacent endof a shaft 7 53. Th sleeves 52 are fixedly secured to the respectiveends of the shaft 53 and the latter is mounted for rotary movement insuitable bearing brackets 54 which extend upwardly from the bedplate ofthe apparatus.

Each post 50 extends through its sleeve 52 and has its'other endprovided with a suitable fitting through which it is pivotally connectedas shown at 55 to a block 56 which is slidably mounted in a crank arm51. Each crank arm 51 is secured at one end to a transversely extendingshaft 58 which is also suitably journaled in bearings provided in thebracket members 54. Coil springs such as indicated at 59 interposebetween the slide blocks 56 and portions of the respective arms 51 serveto normally urge the slide block 56 to move to the outer ends of therespective arms where itis retained by a suitable end member such asindicated at 60.

It will be seen that if the shaft 58 with its arms 51 are rockedclockwise from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown inFig. l, the core shaft carrying posts 50 will be rocked about the axisof the shaft 53 and will also be lowered or retracted by sliding throughthe sleeves 52. Similarly when the crank arm 51 is in the position shownin Fig. 1, counterclockwise rotation thereof will move the posts 50 fromthe generally horizontal and generally retracted position shown to thesubstantially vertical and elevated position shown in Fig. 3.

The shaft 58 has secured to it a gear 6| which meshes with a gear 62carried by the driven shaft of a reversible electric motor 63. Saidmotor has operatively connected to it a suitable limit switch mechanismindicated generally at 64 which serves at the proper time to break thecircuit to the motor so as to stop its operation at either limit ofmovement of the arms 51.

When the posts 88 are in their lowered position as shown in Figs. 1 and12, the core retaining latch arms 46 are lowered so as to permit a coreto roll into the seats 5| as clearly shown in Fig. 12. The disengagingof the latch arms 46 results from engagement of the free end portions ofthe posts 58 with the pins 48 of the respective latch arms 46. As soonas the respective posts 58 are moved upwardly to carry a core shaftupwardly therewith, the respective latch arms are automatically restoredto their operativ positions by their respective counterweights so thatthe next core shaft 38 will be engaged and prevented from rolling offthe tracks 35 and 36.

A web of paper or other material indicated at 65, being delivered fromthe drying cylinder of a paper machine or from any other source, isguided over a guide roller 88 suitably journaled in brackets carried bythe upstanding frame members 28, thence downwardly under the lowermostdrum 26 and upwardly around the same to the core shaft 38 thenpositioned in th bight .of the drums 25 and 26. The paper web isdirected around the core shaft 38 which is rotated incident to itssurface contact with the driven drums 25 and 26. As the web winds up onthe core shaft 38, the diameter of the roll gradually increases andnecessitates movement of the core shaft away from the surface of therolls 25 and 28. Such movement is permitted while the core shaft remainsseated in the upper ends of the posts 58 incident to the capacity of theposts 58 to rock in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaftand against the pressure of the springs 59.

In order that the web be wound with uniform tension on the core shaftnotwithstanding gradual increase in the diameter of the reel during itsformation, means is provided for exerting a uniform and controlled forceon the core shaft to maintain the surface of the reel thereon inconstant contact with the drums 25 and 26. Such means is best shown inFigs. 3 to 13 inclusive.

By reference to Figs. 3 to 13 inclusive, it will be seen that there areprovided a pair of horizontally extending U-shaped members 18 supportedby suitable uprights H, 12 and I3. Within each of said U-shaped members18 there is horizontally slidably, mounted a pusher arm 14. Each pusherarm is guided by rollers such as indicated at 15 carried by the oppositesides of the U-shaped members 18 and fitting within channels within theopposite sides of the member 14. Each pusher member 14 has secured toits bottom side a rack 16 which meshes with a gear 'I'l suitablyjournaled in an extension of the supporting member Ii. Each gear 11 iscarried by a shaft 18 which has secured to its other end a gear 19. Thegear 18 comprises one of a train of gears including in addition to thegear I8 the ears 88 and 8| which are suitably rotatably supported by theupright member H and a gear 82 which is secured to a motor-driven shaft83 also suitably .iournaled in the supporting member H (see Fig. 6). Theshaft 83 for each gear 82 is in effect part of a continuous shaft, thegear carrying sections of which are rigidly interconnected by means of ahollow shaft or quill 84. The shaft 83 at One side of the apparatus isconnected through the agency of a flexible coupling 85 to an electricmotor 86 which is preferably of the type designed for the output of asubstantially constant torque and which may be varied if desired bymeans of a variable rheostat incorporated in the electrical circuit tothe motor. The driven shaft 83 also carries a gear 81 which meshes witha gear 88 carried by a shaft 89 of a rotary switch unit indicated in itsentirety at 98 and which may include as many switches or switchactuating devices as desired for the control of the apparatus,

It will be seen that the electric motor 88 is operative through therespective gear trains and the'gears l1 and racks I8 to effect movementof the pusher members 14 toward the winding drums 25 and 26.

The front end of each pusher member 14 has secured to it a horizontallyelongated upwardly facing channel bar 8|. At the forward end of thechannel bar 8| there is pivoted a pair of fingers 92 and 93respectively, the finger 92 being extended rearwardly from the front endof the member 9| to which it is pivoted as indicated at 94 and thefinger 83 extending forwardly from its pivot connection 98 with themember 8|. The adjacent or free ends of the fingers 82 and 93 aresuitably formed as shown to cooperate to form a segmental seat forengaging and holding the bearing housing 48 at the adjacent end of acore shaft 38. Vertical rocking movement of the fingers 82 and 83 islimited by means such as pins 96 and 81 extending from the respectivefingers into openings such a shown at 98 and 99 respectively in one sideof the member 8|. The fingers are normall urged to move to their upwardlimit of movement by suitable spring actuated rods I88 and |8| which arevertically slidably mounted in suitable openings provided in the pusherbar 14.

When a core shaft is initially delivered to the bight of the drums 25and 26 to start a new reel as shown in Fig. 3, the pusher bars 14 aremoving away from the rolls 25 and 26 to carry away a completed reel.When the pusher barsreach a predetermined, full retracted position,approximately as indicated in Fig. 13, a switch in the switch assembly98 will be closed to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 86and to cause the pusher arms H to move forwardly or toward the drums 25and 26. When the finger 92 engages the bearing housing 48 of the newlypositioned roll core, said finger will be depressed against the pressureof its spring actuated rod I88 and will ride under the bearing housinguntil it reaches a position wherein the spring plunger may lift thefinger into the relative position ii: iustrated in Fig. 8 wherein itcooperates with the finger 93 to effectively hold the newly positionedcore shaft. The torque motor 88 serves, of course, to exert a constantdriving force which tends to move the pusher arms 14 forwardly but suchmovement is limited by engagement of the core shaft 38 with the drums 25and 26. Incident to the gradually increasing diameter of the reel beingformed on the core shaft 38 the pusher members 14 will of course bemoved rearwardly against the torque pressure of the motor 86 which,being substantially constant, results in the holding of the reel beingformed on the core shaft 38 against the drum 25 and 26 with constantsurface pressure. Hence, the reel being formed will be wound with aconstant and uniform tension from beginning to end of the web in thereel.

It will be observed that incident to the movement of the core shaft awayfrom the drums 25 and 2-6, the core elevating members 58 will be slowlyrocked in a clockwise direction about the axis of the shaft 53 and thatultimately the core shaft will be wholly disengaged from the seat 5| inthe end of each arm 50.

over the finger.

By means of a suitable cam actuated switch embodied in the switch unit90 and controlled by the shaft 03, the motor 63 may be energized shortlyafter the core shaft is freed from the seats in the arms 50 as aboveexplained, to thereby continue the clockwise movement of the arms untilthey reach their fully lowered position as shown in Figs. 1 and 12. Theclockwise rocking movement of the arms 50 may be automaticallyterminated when they reach their lowered position by means of a suitablelimit switch included in the switch unit 64 which is controlled by theoperating motor 63. It will of course be evident that the arms 50 may bereturned to their lowered position so as to receive a new or empty coreshaft before the completion of a reel on the core shaft previouslydelivered to the bight of the drums 25 and 26.

When the reel is built up to the desired size, a switch or switches inthe limit switch 90 will be actuated to reverse the direction ofrotation of the motor 86 whereby the pushers 14 with the completed reelcarried by their front ends will be conveyed rearwardly or away from thedrums 25 and 26.

The completed reel will be released from the holding fingers 92 and 93during the course of the travel of the completed reel. For that purposethe pin 91 of the finger 93 is extended so as to project under the outerface of the member 9| (see Fig. 10) so as to be capable of engaging adownwardly inclined cam I05 (see Figs. 3, 5 and 12). Said cam I05 isformed on the end of an elongated bar I06 which is secured to theadjacent side of the U-shaped supporting member 10 and it serves to camthe pin 91 and its finger 93 downwardly to release the core shaft formovement During continued rearward movement of the pusher bars 14 andthe fingers 92 and 93, the finger 93 will be held in its downwardlyadjusting position by engagement of the pin 91 with the lower edge ofthe cam bar Il06.

It will of course be apparent that the momentum of the completed reelwill effect its continued rearward movement, even after the pusher barsI4 and fingers 92 come to rest. The completed reel is delivered,incident to its travel by momentum to relatively stationary guide trackssuch as indicated at I01 which serve to guide the completed reel toother apparatus for handling the reel as may be desired.

As shown in Figs. 6 and '7, the U-shaped supporting members I0 areprovided on the upper edges of their inner sides with rail members I00which constitute, in effect, forward extensions of the tracks I01 toinitially receive the completed reels from the pusher bar fingers 92 and93. 1

During the reeling of the web on the core shaft,

the fingers 92 and 93 are'locked in their operative elevated position byengagement of the extended ends of their pins 96 and 91 with the upperedges of cam bars I09 (see Figs. 3, 58nd 12). Said bars I09, like thecam bars I06, are secured to the U-shaped support member I0 (see Fig.6)' and their rear ends are shaped to provide upwardly and forwardlyinclined cam ends I I 0 which serve to engage the pins 91 of the fingers93 to return the same to their operative position, asclearlyshowninFig.12.

During the time that a completed reel is being carried away by thepusher bars I4, the core elevating arms 50 are actuated to deliver anempty core shaft to the drums 25 and 26. The core elevator arms 50 areset in motion by the operation of a suitable switch or switches embodiedin the switch unit 90 and controlled by the shaft 83. The sequence ofsteps in the operation of the apparatus is shown in Figs. 1'7 toinclusive. By inspection of said figures, it will be seen that incidentto the delivery of a new or empt core shaft to the drums 26 and 26, thenew core shaft 38 will engage the web extending between the lowermostdrum 26 and the completed reel which is at that time being carried awayfrom the drums and 26 (see Fig. 18) When the new core shaft 33 reachesthe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 18 and the web 65 has beengripped between the new core shaft and the drums 25 and 26 and extendsbetween the new core shaft and the com pleted reel, it is eithermanually or automatically severed between the new core shaft and thecompleted reel so as to free the completed reel from the webbing beingthen delivered to the newly positioned core shaft 38. The web continuesto be reeled on the newly delivered core shaft until it reaches thepredetermined size of a completed reel whereupon the describedoperations are again automatically repeated.

The apparatus as described with some additional mechanism about to bedescribed may be employed for reeling two piles of webbing on a coreshaft so as to form a reel of two-ply webbing.

For the last indicated purpose there is provided on the pusher arms I4additional forwardly facing fingers II5 pivoted at their rear ends asindicated at H6 to the members 9| and provided intermediate their endswith laterally extending pins Ill. The pins III are adapted to engageinclined cam ends H8, H9, I20 and I2I (see Fig. 4) formed on cam barsI22, I23 and I24 which are secured to one side of the U-shaped framemembers I0 as best shown in Fig. 6. The pins I I1. extend throughenlarged openings such as indicated'at H8 in the respective sides of themember 9| so as to thereby limit the extent of pivotal movement of thefingers I I5.

Above the described apparatus there is also mounted a belt arrangementfor engaging a reel to effect reversal of its direction of rotation.Such belt arrangement as herein shown comprises a suitable flexible beltI25 which extends around belt pulleys I26 and I2I. The pulley I21 issuitably journaled in the free ends of a pair of arms I29 which arepivotally supported on a shaft I30 on which the pulley I26 is secured.The arms I28 are pivotally mounted on the shaft I30 through theagency ofsuitable anti-friction bearings as shown at I3I, so as to permit freerocking of the arms about said shaft I 30. The arms I28 and endless beltstructure carried thereby are counterbalanced by means of acounterweight I32 suitably connected to the pivotally mounted ends'orhubs of the arms I20 and extending oppositely to the arms I28. The shaftI30 which carries the belt pulley I26 is journaled in suitable bearingsI33 and I3! (see Figs. 2 and 14) and is adapted to be driven through theagency of a magnetic or other suitable clutch indicated at I35, by meansof a chain connection to any conveniently accessible driven shaft orroll of the described reeling apparatus or paper mill with which theapparatus is associated. As shown in Fig. 1 the drive chain I36 extendsbetween a sprocket on the shaft I30 and a sprocket carried by the shaftof the guide roll 66 which may be assumed to be power-driven in anysuitable manner not herein shown.

The pulley shaft in terminates as shown at I51 and another shaft I38co-axially disposed relative to' the shaft I30 extends endwise from theoutside of the hub I38 of the adjacent arm I28. The shaft I35 is securedto the hub I50 so that rotary movement of the shaft will be imparted tothe arms I25, the same being interconnected adjacent their free ends bythe shaft of the pulley I21 and at other suitable intervals by tie rodsI45. The shaft I30 is supported in a pair of suitable bearings MI. Theshaft lie is rotated by means of a reversible electric motor I42 whichis connected through the agency of a speed reducing unit I42 and acoupling device I44. Said coupling device I44 comprises a member I45secured to the output shaft I45 of the speed reducing unit I45 and amember I" which is secured to the shaft I55.

The coupling member I45 embodies a pair of inwardly extending lugs I45and I48, the lug I48 1 being disposed adjacent the periphery of themember I45 and the lug I48 being disposed adjacent the center of saidmember. The coupling member I41 is provided with a laterally extendinglug I50 adjacent its periphery and with a lug II adjacent the centerthereof. When the motor I42 is driven in one direction, the lugs I48 andI40 are respectively adapted to'engage the lugs I50 and I5I to therebytransmit rotary movement from the coupling member I45 to the couplingmember I" and the shaft I38.

A pair of limit switches I52 and I53 suitably connected to the electricmotor I42 are provided for controlling the rotation of the shaft I35 andswinging of the belt I25. The switch I52 is adapted to be actuated inproperly timed relation by a cam member I54 adjustably mounted on theface of the coupling member I45 and the switch I55 may be actuated by acam I55 mounted on the periphery of said coupling member I45.

For reeling the paper web 55 into a two-ply reel, the paper web isinitially reeled on a core shaft to provide on such core shaft thelength of web required for one of the piles of the desired two-ply reel.In other words, a single ply halfreel is formed on a core shaft. In Fig.17, it may be assumed that the broken line circle I50 represents theperiphery of a half-reel. When the reel has reached its desired size, a,suitably set switch in the switch unit 80, or a switch controlled by arotation counter (counting the turns of the reel or other related part)and relays, is actuated to reverse the motor 85, thereby to startmovement of the half-reel away from the drums 25 and substantially asoccurs in the normal reeling of full single-ply reels as alreadyexplained. Another switch in the switch unit 00, (or any other suitablyactuated automatic switch) is actuated to energize the motor I42 torotate the same in the proper direction for lowering the belt I from thefull line position indicated in Fig. 17, to the broken line position, asshown in said figure. When the belt is lowered as explained, the beltitself is not driven but is free to be driven incident to its contactwith the then clockwise rotating reel I50.

The lowering of the belt I25 into engagement with the reel I50 iseffected by clockwise rotation of the coupling parts shown in Figs. 15and 16. At the start of the lowering operation the parts are insubstantially the position shown in Fig. 16. It will be seen thatclockwise rotation imparted I48 will not drive but will merely permitthe lugs I50 and I5I of the coupling member I" to follow the saidclockwise rotation incident to the normal tendency of the belt I25 togravitate in a clockwise direction from its horizontal position.

' It should of course be understood that the counterbalancing weight I52is so adjusted that the belt I25 and its supporting arms I28 willoverbalance the counterweight sufiiciently to cause the belt togravitate in the manner set forth with suflicient force to insure theestablishment of driving engagement between the belt and the reel. Itwill also be observed that the belt I25 is of such free-runningcharacter that the rotation of the reel I50 will readily eflectcorresponding travel of the belt I25 without causing injury to the reel.

The clockwise rotation of the coupling part I45 need not necessarilyterminate at the moment the belt I25 engages the reel, since the lugsI45 and I45 of said coupling part may continue their clockwise movementand become separated from the lugs I55 and I5I of the coupling memberI41 which come to a stop when the belt engages the reel. However, theclockwise rotation of the coupling member I45 is automaticallyterminated at a suitable point by actuation of the limit switch I52 bythe cam I54.

When the reel I55 has been carried by the pusher bars I4 and the fingers82 and 93 to the limit of outward or rearward movement of the pusherbars, another switch in the switch unit is operated to energize themagnetic clutch I05 so as to effect reversal of the direction of travelof the belt I25 and to thereby reverse the direction of rotation of thereel I50. The employment of a magnetic clutch for this purpose resultsin a gradual stopping of the initial clockwise rotation of the reel I50and reversal of said direction of rotation so as to further protect thereel against incident to such reversal of v rotation.

During the time that the half-reel I50 is separated from the drums 25and 25, a new or empty coreshaft 28 is delivered by the mechanism,already explained, to the bight of the drums 25 and 25. In this instancethe web 55 need not be severed between the new core shaft 38 and reelI50 but the web portion indicated at "ii is permitted to follow thesurface of the newly placed core shaft I55 and to pass between such coreshaft and the drums 25 and 25 whereby the web 55 is fed to the newlyplaced core shaft from both the original source of the webbing and fromthe half reel I50, the relationship then being substantially asindicated in Fig. 19.

The half reel I50 is desirably returned toward the drums 25 and 25 tothe extent permitted by the presence of the intervening newly placedcore shaft 08. For this purpose the finger H5 is maintained in anupwardly adjusted position by the cam bar I25 so that during the desiredportion of the forward movement of the pusher bar said finger willengage the shaft of the halfreel I50 to move such reel toward the drums25 and 25. As shown in Fig. 19, the finger I I5 is automatically loweredby the cam I I8 so as to permit said finger to pass under the core shaftto the coupling member I45 and its lugs I45 and 10 of the reel I50 whenthe reel closely approaches its fully returned position, so as tothereby permit the pusher bars I4 and the fingers 92 and 03 to continuetheir forward movement until the fingers 02 and 53 come into operativerelation to the shaft of the newly placed core shaft 88. The momentum ofthe reel I00 will complete the movement of the reel into engagement withthe surface of the newly placed core shaft or with the surface of thereel being formed thereon so that the rotation .of the now forming two.ply reel will be communicated to the half-reel I60 so as to. continuethe "counterclockwise rotation thereof as required for transferring theweb from such reel to'the two-ply reel.

The reel reversing belt I25 may be. automatically returned to its.elevating Position at any pointduring the travel of the reel I60 back toits feeding position as shown in Fig. 20. Such return-movement of thebelt I25 may be controlled'by a switch embodied in the switch unit 90which will energize the motor I42 to rotate the same in the properdirection fordriving the coupling members I45 and I41 in acounterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 15 and 16.

Upon counter-clockwise rotation of the coupling member I45, its lugs I48and I49 engage the lugs I50 and II respectively of the coupling memberI41 to thereby transmit counter-clockwise rotation to the shaft I38 andconsequently lifting movement to the belt I25. The upward movement ofthe belt I25 is automatically stopped by the cooperation of the cam I55and limit switch I53 as already mentioned.

When the two-ply reel is built up to the desired size, it is handled inthe same way that a singleply reel is handled to separate itfrom theincoming web 65 and to start the reeling of a new half-reel.

It may be observed that in the formation of two ply reels, one set ofswitches is required for controlling the operation of the mechanismduring the manipulation of the half-reel and the reversing belt I25 andthat other switches .may be provided for operating the mechanism uponcompletion of the two ply reel. Suchseparate sets of switches are ofcourse to be operated alternately. Such alternate operation may beprovided for in many ways well known to those skilled in the electricalarts and inasmuch as the details of such switches form no part of thepresent invention, they are not herein disclosed or described.

Electrical circuits and operation single ply reeling When forming singleply reels, the operation is substantially as follows:

Step 1.When first starting operation, a switch A is manually closed toelevate a reel core into operative relation to the winding drums. Theswitch A closes a circuit to an electrical element B, which operates toclose a' gang switch C in the circuit of the reversible core elevatingmotor 63. The switch C remains closed until subsequent operations effectopening thereof and it is so wired to the motor. 63 as to cause the sameto rotate in the proper direction for swinging the core elevating armsupwardly. The manually operated switch A may be released as soon as theswitch C is closed, but a switch A associated with the switch C opens tobreak the circuit to the electrical device B when the switch C closes.

Step 2.When a new reel core is delivered to operative position, a switchD in the control unit 84 associated with and driven by the motor 63 isactuated to close a circuit to an electrical device E, which opens theswitch C to stop the motor 63,1eaving'the core elevating arms 50 in upposition. The circuit to the device E is also controlled by a switch Dwhich is associated with and opens with the switch C.

Step 3.A torque motor 88 is next started so as to advance the pushers 14to holdthe reel core against the winding drums. The motor 86 is startedby closing the main switch F, gang switch G beingassumed to be closed inth condition in which work was stopped at the. close of the previousoperation of the apparatus.

Step 4.--After the reel is built up sufilciently to have caused thepushers I4 to move outwardly (away from the winding drums 25 and 26) tosuch an extent that the reel core has become disengaged from theelevator arms 50, a switch H- in the unit is closed to energize a coil Jwhich acts to close a gang switch K, thereby to run the motor 63reversely so as to lower the arms switchK to stop the motor 63. Thecircuit of switch L and coil M is also controlled by a switch L' whichopens'and closes with the switch K.

Step 6.--When the pushers I4 are forced outwardly to a positiondetermined by the size of the desired reel, a switch N in the unit 90 isclosed to energize coils P and Q for opening gang switch G and closinggang switch R respectively, thereby to reverse the motor 86 and retractthe pushers I4 and the completed reel.

Step 7.-During the retraction of the pushers 14, a newreel' core isbeing elevated to reeling position. This is automatically effected bythe closing of a switch S in the unit 90, whereby winding B is energizedto close switch C to run motor 63 to elevate the reel core. The switch Din the unit 64 is closed, as above explained, to stop the motor 63 whenthe new reel core reaches operative position.

Step 8.When the pushers l4 reach their outward limit of travel (somewhatafter the full reel has been discharged from the pusher arms), a

switch T in unit 90 is closed to energize windings U and V whichrespectively open switch R and close switch G to again reverse the motor88 and to advance the pushers 14 to operative position.

Step 9.--The cycle of operations is then continuous and automaticallyrepeated as set forth in foregoing paragraphs 4 to 8 inclusive.

The cams which operate the switches H, S, N and T in control unit 90 areso arranged that they operate the switches only on forward movement ofthe cams incident to outward movement of the pushers I4. Variousarrangements may be used to procure such one-way operation, for examplea spring pawl device which is operative when rotation is in onedirection but inoperative or yielding when rotation is in the oppositedirection. It should be observed that there is a definite relationshipbetween the position of the pusher arms I4 and the various cams of theunit -90 due to the interconnecting gearing comprising the gears I9, 80,8|, 82 and shaft 83, gears 81 and 88, and the shaft 89 (see Figure 6 ofthe drawings).

' Two-ply reeling For reeling two-ply rolls, the foregoing operations.are employed together with certain additional operations which are alsocontrolled by switches embodied in the control unit 80. For

two-ply reeling, a switch 300 is manually closed, and steps 1 to 5 asabove outlined tak place in the order indicated. Then the followingsteps occur:

Step 6A.A switch W in the unit 30 is closed when the reel contains therequired length of material, i. e., usually one-half a singleply reel.Closing of the switch W operates to energize coils P and Q to therebyreverse the motor 06 to retract the half reel.

Step 7A.During the retraction of the half reel, a switch X in the unit30 is closed to energize coil Y, which closes switch 300 to operate themotor I42 in the proper direction for lowering the belt 125 intoengagement with the retracted half reel.

Step 8A.Downward movement of the belt I25 is stopped by means of the camI50, which closes switch I52 to complete a circuit to a winding 302 foropening the switch 300.

Step 9A.Also during the retraction of t e half reel, a new reel core iselevated to reeling position, this being initiated by closing of theswitch S in the unit 90, as explained in paragraph 'I.

Step 10A-.--When the retraction of the half reel is completed, or nearlyso, a switch 303 in control unit 90 is closed to energize the magneticclutch I35 so as to drive the belt to reverse the rotation of the halfreel. The switch 303 may be held closed by its operating cam for thetime required for effecting reversal of the half reel, after which theswitch 303 is again opened and the clutch I35 de-energized. As apractical matter, the switch 303 may be held closed during a finalportion of the outward movement of the pushers 14 and during an initialportion of the return or advancing movement of the pushers.

Step 11A.At the limit of retraction of the pushers 1|, the switch T inthe unit 90 is closed to energize windings U and V to reverse the torquemotor 86 and again advance the pushers 14 to operatiyeposition relativeto the newly delivered reel core.

Step I;Z A.When the new two-ply reel is built up to full. size, theswitch N in the unit 90 will be closed to reverse the torque motor 80 toretract the full two-ply reel as explained for a single ply reel inparagraph 6.

Step 13A.It will be observed that in the twoply reeling operation thebelt I25 is brought into operation and a reel core delivered each timethat a half reel is formed as an intermediate step in the production ofa full two-ply reel. Hence the cams which operate the switches W, X, 303and 301 in the control unit 90 should be operative only every other timethat the pushers 14 are moved outwardly and returned to operativeposition'relative to the winding drums. Such operation of the switchesW, X, 303 and 301 intermediate every other cycle of operation of theswitches H, S, N and T may be obtained by driving the operating cams forthe switches W, X, 303 and 301 only forwardly and only one-half arevolution for each full revolution of the cams which operate the otherswitches in the unit 90. This may be accomplished by appropriate gearingand a one-way driving clutch arrangement indicated generally at 304 inthe diagram.

Step 14A.-The belt I25 is returned to its elevated, inoperative positionafter reversal of the rotation of the half reel and during the return ofthe half reel to advanced position for delivering its web to the new,two-ply reel to be formed. Such return of the belt I25 may be initiatedby the switch 301 in the unit 90 which may be closed,

at the beginning of the outward movement of the pushers, to energize awinding 300 which closes the switch 301 to actuate the motor I42 in the-pr0per direction to elevate the belt. Return movement of the belt 125is limited or stopped by closing of the switch 153 by means of the camI55, thereby energizing a winding 303 which opens the switch 301.

In the operation of the described reeling apparatus, whether used forreeling single ply or two ply reels, the gradually increasing diameterof the reel being formed has no bearing on the contact pressure betweenthe reel and the drums 25 and 26. The weight of the reel supplies nocomponent of the force which holds the reel in contact with the drums 25and 26, such force being wholly dependent upon the controllable torqueof the electric motor 00. This is of considerable importance in theproduction of uniiormly wound reels.

Another important advantage of the described construction is that theposition of the core shaft of the reel is definitely determined by thepusher bars 14 and their fingers 92 and 93 so that the core shaft may beaccurately positioned in parallel position to the drums 25 and 23 tothereby further insure the production of a cylindrical reel rather thana cone-shaped reel which might occur in conventional apparatus where theposition of the core shaft is neither accurately nor positivelycontrolled.

The tautness of the winding of the reel is controllable in the describedmechanism incident to the controllability of the speed of rotation ortorque of the drums 25 and 25. If the upper drum 25 is driven with agreater torque than the lower drum, there will, of course, be anincrease in the tautness with which the web is wound onthe reel. By thesame token, i! the torque of the upper drum 25 is made less than that ofthe lower drum, the web will be loose-wound in the reel.

The principles of the winding structure described may advantageously beemployed also for effecting unwinding where a paper web is to be drawnfrom a supply reel and acted upon by other mechanism for converting theweb into a given product. It would be apparent that by holding a reelagainst the drums 25 and 26, the reel may be driven in such direction asto unwind the web therefrom for the purpose of feeding it to otherapparatus, the unwinding opera tion being then performed in such amanner that the web is fed at a substantially constant speed and at auniform tautness.

By the described arrangement, the reel, whether being wound or unwound,is effectively held against the driving drums 25 and 20 with the axis ofthe reel positively maintained in parallel relation to the axes of thedrums 25 and 26, whereby a uniform and straight reel is readily producedor, in unwinding operations, a uniform and straight unwound sheet or webdelivered.

In the case of an unwinding operation, it may, in some instances, bedesirable that the reel be held against the driving drums with aninitially high pressure which is gradually reduced. as the invention,the scope of which should be determined by referenceto the followingclaims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistentwiththe state of the art. I claim: 1. 'Inapparatus of the classdescribed, a rotatably driven drum, means for conveying a reel coreupwardly into engagement with said dirum,

reel core supporting means horizontally movable from an initially spacedposition relative to said drum to operative position under a portion ofsaid core, said horizontally movable means being also movable from saiddrum as an incident to the building up of a roll supported on saidhorizontally movable means, and reversible means operative in onedirection of movement to urge said horizontally movable means to movewith a constant force toward said drum and in the opposite directiontomove said horizontally movable means from said drum to thereby carrysaid reel core and reel formed thereon from the drum.

2. In apparatus of the class described a pair of rotatably driven drums,means for conveying a reel core into reel forming relation to both ofsaid drums, reversible power driven means operative in one direction tourge said core toward said drums with a constant pressure while, at thesame time, permitting movement of said core from said drums incident tothe reeling of a web,

on the core, said power driven means being operable in the oppositedirection'to carry said core and reel formed thereon from said drums.

and means for driving said drums including a variable torque drive forat least one of said drums whereby to control the tautness of the webwound on said core.

3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a pair ofrotatably driven drums, means for supporting an empty reel core belowsaid drums, means for elevating a reel core irom said supporting meansinto the bight of said drums, horizontally movably supported means forsupporting said reel core in the bight of said drums, said means beingmovable toward and from said drums and operative to receive said reelcore from said elevating and positioning means, and means for applyingsubstantially constant force to said horizontally movable means to urgethe same toward said drums, while at the same time permitting movementthereof from said drums.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a rotatably driven drum,meansfor supporting a reel core below said drum, means for elevating areel core from saidsupporting means into reel-formin relation to saiddrum, said elevating means comprising a sleeve member mounted forrocking movement on an axis extending transversely of the direction ofthe sleeve, a post slidable in said sleeve and provided at one end withmeans for engaging the reel core on said supporting means, and a crankam having its free end pivotally connected to the other end of said postand operative, as an incident to rocking of said crank arm to rock saidpost about the pivot of said sleeve and to slide said post upwardlythrough said sleeve.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a rotatably driven drum, meansfor supporting a reel core below said drum, means for elevating a reelcore from said supporting means into reel-forming relation to. saiddrum, said elevatingmeans comprising a sleeve member mounted for rockingmovement on an axis extending transversely of the direction of thesleeve, :3, post slidable in said sleeve and provided at one end withmeans for engagin the reel core on said supporting means, and a crankarm having its free end pivotaliy connected to the other end of saidpost and operative, as an incidentto rocking of said crank arm, to rocksaid post about the pivot of said sleeve and to slide said post upwardlythrough said sleeve, the pivotal connection between said post and crankarm comprising a crank pin mounted in said crank arm for move- ,menttoward and from the axis of rotation of the crank arm, and yieldablemeans for normally maintaining said crank pin in outwardly disposedposition and operative-to permit inward movement of said crank pin as anincident to outwardmovement oi the reel-positioning end of said post asan incident to the gradually increasing diameter of a reel formed onsaid core.

6. Apparatus of the class described comprising a horizontally movablereel supporting member, means for elevating a reel core from below saidsupporting member to an elevated position relative thereto, a pairofrespectively opposed, cooperating fingers pivotally mounted on saidhorizontally movable supporting member and provided with adjacent endsprojecting upwardly from said supporting member and adapted to receiveand hold a reel core between them on said position during predeterminedportions of the horizontal movement of said supporting member, and vcammeans for eflecting lowering of one of said fingers to permit dischargeof a reel from said fingers, the other of said fingers being depressibleas an incident to engagement thereby with a, reel core supported by saidelevating means when said supporting member is moved horizontally undersuch reel:

7. Apparatus of the-class described comprising a rotatably driven drumfor guiding a web, means for elevatin a reel core from below said drum,to reel-forming relation thereto, laterally movable means for receivingsaid reel core from said elevating means and supporting said core duringthe reeling thereon of web guided by said drum,

meansoperative when the reel has reached a predetermined size to effectmovement of said laterally movable supporting means and the reelsupported thereby from said drum, means for reversing the direction ofrotation of said reel, means for operating said core elevating means tocarry another core into engagement with the web passing from said drumto said reel and to carry the engaged web portion against said drum soas to start the reeling of the web from both said drum and reel on saidlast mentioned core, and means for returning said reel supporting meanstoward said 'drum to eifect inter-engage- ;mentbetween said reel andsaid last mentioned core, thereby to maintain the reverse rotation ofsaid reel during the reeling of the web therefrom on said core.

8. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a drum forguiding a web to be reeled, means for elevating a reel-core from belowsaid drum into engagement with the web guided thereby so as to causereeling of said web on said core, horizontally movable means having apair of reel-core eng members movably mounted thereon and normallyoperative to engage and position a reel core in substantially fixedrelation to such horizontally movable means, an amdliary member movablymounted on such horizontally movable means in laterally spaced relationto said pair of members, means for effecting movement of saidhorizontally movable means and a reel carried thereby from said drum todiscontinue the reeling of said web on said core, means for reversingthe direction of rotation of said reel, means for operating said coreelevating means to elevate another core into trical current delivered tosaid separate electric motors for energizing the same.

11. Apparatus of the class described comprising a rotatably driven drumfor guiding a web, laterally movable means for supporting and holding areel core in engagement with said drum so as to thereby efiect rotationof said reel core and winding of said web on said core to form a reel,means operative when the reel has reached a predetermined size to ellectmovement of said laterally movable supporting means and the reel thereonfrom said drum, means for reversing the direction of r'otationof saidreel, means for delivering another reel core into engagement with theweb passing from said drum to said reel and to carry the engaged webportion against said i drum so as to start the reeling of the web fromengagement with the web intermediate said drum and reel and to carrysaid last-mentioned core and the engaged portion of the web intoengagement with said drum, thereby to initiate reeling of the web fromboth said drum and said reel on said last-mentioned core, means foreilecting release of said reel from said pair of members and subsequentmovement of said laterally movable means toward said drum and intooperative engagement with said last-mentioned core, said laterallyspaced member being operative to engage the core of said reel toincidentally ellect movement of said reel into engagement with saidcore, whereby the reverse rotation of said reel will be continued tofacilitate unwinding of the web from said'reel and reeling thereof onsaid last-mentioned core to form a two-ply reel.

9. Apparatus of the class described comprising a horizontally movablymounted member provided with means for receiving and fixedly positioninga reel core thereon, a pair of vertically spaced rolls having the bightthereof horizontally aligned with the path of travel of a reel corecarried by said member, said rolls being simultaneously engageable bysuch a reel core, means for driving said rolls, adjustable, constantforce means for urging said member to move toward said rolls so as tocarry a reel core into engagement with said rolls so as to be therebydriven,

and means for reversing the direction of said,

constant force so as to effect movement of said horizontally movablemember and reel core from said rolls.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a driven roll from which thereis delivered a web to be wound, a pair of winding drums, separateelectric motors independently driving said drums, means forindependently controlling the relative speed of rotation at which saiddrums are driven by said motors, and means controlled by the speed 01rotation of said drlven roll for maintaining at a predetermined,substantially constant relationship, the speed at which said drums aredriven and the speed or rotation of said driven roll, said lastmentioned means comprising a generator actuated by said driven roll, amotor synchronized with and driven by said generator, and a voltageregulator controlled by said generator driven motor for controlling thevoltage of elecboth said drum and reel on said other reel core, andmeans for returning said reel supporting means toward said drum toeffect interengagement between said reel and said other core, thereby tomaintain the reverse rotation of said reel during the reeling of the webtherefrom on said core. U

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the means for reversing thedirection of rotation of the reel comprises an endless belt travelingaround spaced pulleys, means for pivotally supporting said belt forrocking movement toward and from the reel to be reversed, means forefiecting rocking of said belt into engagement with said reel, said beltbeing initially free running so as to be driven in one direction as aresult of its engagement with said reel, and power means for drivingsaid belt in the opposite direction, thereby to reverse the direction ofrotation of said reel.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the means for reversing thedirection of rotation of the reel comprises an endless belt travelingaround spaced pulleys, means ior pivotally supporting said belt forrocking movement toward and from the reel to be reversed, means foreffecting rocking of said belt into engagement with.

said reel, said belt being initially free running so as to be driven inone direction as a result of its engagement with said reel, power meansfor driving said belt in the opposite direction, thereby to reverse thedirection of rotation of said reel, and a magnetic clutch connectingsaid power means with said belt for driving the same whereby stopping ofthe initial rotation of the reel and reversal of the direction of itstravel is effected gradually upon energization of said clutch.

14. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a pair of verticallyspaced rolls, means for driving said rolls, means for adjusting thedrive of one of said rolls independently of the drive of'the other, andmeans for horizontally movably supporting a reel in contact with both ofsaid rolls.

15. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a .pair of verticallyspaced rolls, means for driving said rolls, means for adjusting thedrive of one of said rolls independently of the drive of the other,means for horizontally movably supporting a reel in contact with both ofsaid rolls, and means for urging said reel toward said rolls with asubstantially constant force.-

RUDOLF A. MORAVEK.

